WAR IN CHINA

Hokitika Guardian, 14 May 1928, Page 2

WAR IN CHINA

JAPAN HOLDS TSINAN

(United. Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

SHANGHAI, May 12,

With the exception of occasional sniping, Tsiiuuifu is now completely clear of southern soldiers. The southerners have retreated to Tainfu, except those portions which proceeded north from Jsinanfu to Yencheng, ' fifteen miles beyond the Yellow River, where the positions’are static.

Chang Tso Lin, in accordance with a telegraphed suggestion for him to cease fighting for the purpose of a Chinese combination against the Japanese forces, is withdrawing his troops, unless tlie Japanese oiler a truce and ignore tlie Southern Army.

Fighting is now practically at a standstill in the Shantung area. Nakayama, Chief of the first section of tlie Asiatic Affairs Bureau, is proceeding from Japan to Tsinanfu to meet the Chinese delegates. A telegraphic complaint has been received from the Chinese telegraph staff at Tsinanfu, alleging tiie Japanese imprisoned forty members in tlie telegraph building, who are starving, having been four days without food. They are appealing lor assistance and foreign intervention.

Ail eyewitness’s accounts of the Tsinanfu incidents throw new light declaring the trouble started when tlie .Southerners captured Tsinanfu. and foil ml tlie Japanese had arrived first and barricaded sections of tlie'city, angering the Southerners. From that moment, strong anti-Japanese feeling was evidenced. SHANGHAI, May 12.

General Feng Yuli Siang has sustained a severe defeat at Changteh, leading to rupture of his friendly relations with tlie Wuhan Government, and depriving General Feng ol Hankow as a port for the receipt of supplies and as a protection of his rear against malcontent commanders.

SOITTI i F.RN ADVANCE. SHANGHAI, May 12

The Nationalist armies, under Generals Feng Yuli Siang and Marshal (•hiang Kai Slick, have commenced the lasi stage of the Nationalist advance on Peking, entering the Chihli province. Following on their abandonment of 'Jehehow, Marshal Cluing Tso Lin ami his son are preparing to flee to Al.aneliuiia with the Fengticn armies intact. They are now proceeding behind the Great Wall at Shanhaikun, and there will make a stand for the retention of -Manchuria. Foreign reports from the North indicate that there is a lack ol morale among the Northern troops, and it has now spread to their Commanders, and it is not unlikely that tlie Northern withdrawal from Chihli Province may degenerate into an undignified retreat.

FOREIGNERS IN NORTH. SHANGHAI. A!av 12. Coincident with strenuous endeavours to provide an adequate defence for the Foreign Concession at Tientsin, a meeting of representatives of tlie Protocol Powers was held at Pekin on Thursday, and discussed tlie advisability of taking steps to ensure an open railway from Tientsin to Peking, in accordance with the Boxer Protocol, together with the establishment of a seven-mile neutral zone around Tientsin. It is understood that the diplomats were unanimous, with tlie exception of one representative, but this is insufficient, as the powers must all agree. TOKIO. May 12. P.'spjitclios to tile* .l:i])iinese forci.nn Olliee from Cheefoo, North China, state that a conference of the consular body there was held and it was decided to guard tlie consular quarter and five hundred Japanese, British and American marines. Tlie foreign nationals will tie concentrated on Yentai Hill. This is a consular quarter.

SHANGHAI. May 12. The arrival of eight Japanese destroyers at Shanghai is reported. Here the situation, though quiet, has disturbing elements. This raises the total of Japanese warships in Port at Shanghai to ten. Similar Japanese precautions are being taken in other treaty ports.

Pi:kiNG’S CAPTURE EXPECTED SHANGHAI, May 12.

Tile Tsinanfu affair is regarded as being in the background in view of the latest reports from the North, stating that the Southerners are completely evacuating Tsinanfu and crossing the Yellow Hirer, and are continuing their drive aginst the Northerners, who are reported to have fallen hack on Tcliow, the last Northern stronghold, the capture of which is believed to lie certain.

General Chang Chung Chang, the Shantung military governor, is preparing to retreat to Tsangehow, fifty miles south from Tientsin, and one hundred and forty miles from the Southerners’ goal, which is Peking. It is expected that Peking is doomed. 'l'lie Northern militarists, who are occupying if are reported to fie preparing for flight.

-Marshal Chang Tso Lin himself i: reported to have departed for Manchuria. hut this is not confirmed.

Tientsin is now occupied hv the Sixth Regiment of United States marines, and a few troops of other nations. Precautions have commenced there to prevent a repetition of the Tsinanfu incidents. JA PAN ’ S I NTH R MENTION. TOKYO, May 12. The Prime Minister'of Japan, Baron Tanaka, interviewed, said that it was now hoped to transfer the Tsinanfu affair to diplomatic negotiations. Japan had no intention of obstructing the Nationalist revolutionary movement. The despatch of the .Japanese troops, he said, was merely fop the protection of Japanese residents and of the Kiaochow-Tsian railway. It was certain that massacres in Tsinanfu were committed deliberately, as they were at Nanking last year. Many more Japanese ,ives would have been lost if Japan had hesitated in sending troops. lie believed that British, American and other foreigners might have Been molested but for the presence of the Japanese Army, and that Europe and America would recognise that Japan’s mobilisation was opportune. So far no untoward incident had occurred in the Yangtze \ alley, but the Japanese and also the other naval authorities were exercising proper precautions in that area.

Regarding the reaction of the Shangtung affair on Japan's domestic politics. Baron Tanaka said that lie was willing to co-operate with the Japanese opposition for a solution of the Sliangtung problem.

TSINANFU UNDER CLOUD. WASHINGTON, May 12. Mr Ernest Price, at Tsinanfu, lias been given authority by the U.S.A. Stat*? Department to attempt mediation between the Japanese and the Chinese Nationalists, or to take any other course in the interests of a pacific settlement of the situation which he may consider advisable. Mr Kellogg (U.S. Secretary) denied, however, that the United States lias notified the Japanese or Chinese that

it is willing to mediate in the controversy. Ho added that the Government has not sent any correspondence direct to the Japanese and the Chinese upon the matter.

State Department officials are otherwise reluctant to discuss tlie situation, except to reiterate that the United States will not attempt to mediate unless requested by both parties. It is stated that it is difficult for tlie State Department to obtain any information, and that they had no accurate statement as to what had occurred since the first day of the clash at Tsinanfu.

CHINESE APPEAL TO LEAGUE. ‘ LONDON, May 12. 5 Nanking is appealing to the League of Nations, claiming that Japan ,is guilty of an overt act of war in despatching her troops to Shantung. The Nanking Government blames the outrages on the Japanese, including the alleged murder and mutilation of the Nationalist Commissioner of Foreign Affairs at Tsinanfu. They ask that Japan shall he instructed to quit Shantung immediately, and arc offering-to submit the dispute there to arbitration. GENEVA, May 11.

The Chinese National Government has sent a letter to tlie League denouncing the Japanese violation of China’s integrity and independence, involving the League Pact and requesting the Council to end the situation. Which is prejudicial to Chmo- Japanese peace. It is pointed out that the National Government is not a member ol the League, therefore the application is out of order, hut, would he regularised if Pekin endorsed it. Meantime the Secretariat is communicating with all members of the Council. It is expected that Japan will also submit the matter to the Council.